Houston has won five of their last six
Javier impresses again, Astros shutout Mariners for another win
Apr 27, 2021, 9:52 pm
Houston has won five of their last six
Cristian Javier continues to impress in 2021.
After starting this four-game series with a win in the opener Monday night, the Astros tried to continue their recent momentum to take game two on Tuesday night with Cristian Javier on the mound and their full-powered lineup back intact. They would get a great start from Javier and enough offense to back him up, resulting in the win.
Final Score: Astros 2, Mariners 0
Astros' Record: 12-11, fourth in the AL West
Winning Pitcher: Cristian Javier (3-0)
Losing Pitcher: Marco Gonzales (1-3)
Cristian Javier once again impressed on the mound, similar to his last start, but this time going deeper into the game. He would allow just two hits, a single in the top of the first and double in the fourth, along with three walks, otherwise holding the Mariners at bay and off the board for seven complete innings, earning him a quality start. His final line: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K, 107 P.
17 consecutive scoreless innings. ☕️#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/PZrIR6LEkt
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 28, 2021
That would put Javier in line for the win, thanks to his offense getting a couple of runs in the bottom of the fourth. After being held without a hit to that point, Michael Brantley led off with a single, moved to third on a double by Alex Bregman, then scored on a sac fly by Yordan Alvarez. Bregman would later score on an RBI infield single by Kyle tucker, giving Houston the 2-0 lead they would hold through Javier's start.
Brooks Raley would take over in the top of the eighth, posting a 1-2-3 inning with a couple of strikeouts to maintain the two-run lead. Still 2-0 in the top of the ninth, Ryan Pressly would come in to attempt his third save of the season. He would convert it, improving Houston to 5-1 over their last six and giving them a chance to lock up a series win on Wednesday.
Up Next: Game three of this series will be another 7:10 PM start on Wednesday. Zack Greinke (2-1, 2.76 ERA) will try to get his third win of the season for the Astros, going opposite of Justin Dunn (1-0, 3.68 ERA) for the Mariners.
MLB Insider Jeremy Booth, who covers the Astros closely, joins the show to break down one big question — Is Hunter Brown the Astros’ next ace?
Brown is making serious noise in 2025. His stats are up, velocity is up, and his command looks sharper than ever. He’s showing all the signs of becoming a true frontline starter. But should the Astros pay him like one?
We’re talking about Brown’s growth since last season, whether he belongs in the #1 or #2 spot in the rotation, and how his performance stacks up against other well-paid, well-deserved pitchers across the league.
Is it time Houston locks in their future ace?
Be sure to watch the video below for the full discussion.